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Shadow Pattern of Wall A
Shadow gradient with natural light from the right
Shadow Pattern with natural light from left

Acoustic Wall in the Cafeteria of Baser & Hofmann
Fugenöffnung nahe des Lüftungsauslasses

Perspective of Acoustic Wall A in the dinning area of Basler & Hofmann
AR Set-Up with Acoustic Wall

Builder starting the Augmented Reality Set-Up On-Site
Builder placing one timber block with camera set-up

Augmented Acoustics, Esslingen, 2019
Object-Inertial Tracking for Human Assembly of Acoustic Timber Walls
Augmented Acoustics combines the computational design of an acoustic timber wall with a novel augmented reality in-situ assembly method.

To improve acoustic qualities in the cafeteria of Basler & Hofmann in Esslingen, Switzerland, three acoustic walls with a total area of 90 m2 have been computationally designed and built. The walls are composed of 8500 identical fir timber blocks. To improve the speech intelligibility each timber block has a unique position and orientation based on the principals of the Schroeder Diffusor. Due to the asymmetric cut of the front side of the blocks, the different orientations of the blocks create customized shadow patterns on the wall, dynamically changing throughout the day. The varying gaps between the blocks in the bond improve the acoustic absorption and function as air ducts for the ventilation system integrated behind the walls.

Gramazio Kohler Research and the Robotic Systems Lab at ETH Zurich have developed an augmented object laying technology, which provides visual guidance for the builder to place blocks in accordance to a specified design. The carpenters are equipped with a custom-built camera controller unit, while feedback is provided via a monitor. The system recognizes and tracks objects and provides feedback on deviations between the built structure and the virtual design.

For further information on the Augmented Reality Technology
Object-Based Visual-Inertial Tracking for Additive Fabrication

Credits:
Gramazio Kohler Research, ETH Zurich

In cooperation with: Robotic Systems Lab (ETH Zurich, Dr. Timothy Sandy)
Client: Basler & Hofmann AG
Collaborators: Matthias Helmreich, Dr. Aleksandra Anna Apolinarska, Daniela Mitterberger, Dr. Kathrin Dörfler, Lukas Stadelmann
Selected experts: Basler & Hofmann AG, Strauss Elektroakustik GmbH
Industry partner: ERNE Holzbau AG

Copyright 2023, Gramazio Kohler Research, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Gramazio Kohler Research
Chair of Architecture and Digital Fabrication
ETH Zürich HIB E 43
Stefano-Franscini Platz 1 / CH-8093 Zurich

+41 44 633 49 06
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